Radiator core support structure of motor vehicle

Abstract

A radiator core support structure is a member to be mounted on a front portion of a vehicle body for supporting a radiator. The radiator core support structure comprises an upper elongate member made of metal, a lower elongate member made of metal and a hood lock stay portion made of molded plastic. The hood lock stay portion has an upper end integrally connected to the upper elongate member and a lower end that is shaped to grip an intermediate portion of the lower elongate member. The connection between the hood lock stay portion and each of the upper and lower elongate members is integrally carried out by injection molding.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A radiator core support structure comprising: 
       an upper elongate member;  
       a lower elongate member made of metal; and  
       a hood lock stay portion made of integrally molded plastic, said hood lock stay portion having an upper end integrally connected to said upper elongate member and a lower end that is integrally connected to and shaped to grip an intermediate portion of said lower elongate member, the connection between the hood lock stay portion and said lower elongate member being integrally carried out by injection molding.  
     
     
       2. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said upper end of said hood lock stay portion is connected to an intermediate portion of said upper elongate member and said lower end of said hood lock stay portion is connected to an intermediate portion of said lower elongate member. 
     
     
       3. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 2 , in which said hood lock stay portion is constructed to have a generally C-shaped cross section, which comprises an elongate front wall and two elongate side walls which are combined to constitute a channel structure. 
     
     
       4. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 3 , in which said lower end of the hood lock stay portion comprises: 
       a depressed part defined by said hood lock stay portion; and  
       two vertical walls which are arranged to sandwich therebetween said depressed part and reinforce said depressed part, each vertical wall extending in an axial direction of said hood lock stay portion.  
     
     
       5. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 4 , in which each of said two vertical walls has a generally U-shaped grip portion which tightly grips said lower elongate member. 
     
     
       6. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 5 , in which said U-shaped grip portion of each vertical wall is constructed to substantially surround the intermediate portion of said lower elongate member. 
     
     
       7. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 5 , in which said lower elongate member is of a channel member, in which a reinforcing structure of integrally molded plastic is installed in the channel of the lower elongate member to reinforce the lower elongate member, and in which each of the vertical walls of the lower end of said hood lock stay portion has a rear end integral with the reinforcing structure in the channel of the lower elongate member. 
     
     
       8. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 7 , in which the intermediate portion of said lower elongate member is formed with at least one through hole through which a front wall part of the lower end of said hood lock stay portion is integrally connected with the reinforcing structure of the molded plastic which is installed in said lower elongate member. 
     
     
       9. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the reinforcing structure comprises a plurality of alternately slanted ribs which run in a zigzag line. 
     
     
       10. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said upper and lower elongate members are of a channel member and said upper elongate member is made of metal. 
     
     
       11. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a hood lock mounting member made of metal, said hood lock mounting member being welded to an intermediate portion of said upper elongate member of metal and integrally connected to said upper end of said hood lock stay portion. 
     
     
       12. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 11 , in which a reinforcing structure of integrally molded plastic is installed in each of the channels of the upper and lower elongate members to reinforce the upper and lower elongate members. 
     
     
       13. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the reinforcing structure in each of the upper and lower elongate members comprises a plurality of alternately slanted ribs which run in a zigzag line. 
     
     
       14. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 13 , in which said hood lock mounting member of metal has a bent lower end which is embedded in said hood lock stay portion. 
     
     
       15. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising two pillar portions made of integrally molded plastic, each having an upper end integrally connected to a laterally outside end of said upper elongate member and a lower end integrally connected to a laterally outside end of said lower elongate member. 
     
     
       16. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising two side members of metal, each side member being welded to the laterally outside end of said lower elongate member and connected to one of the two pillar portions. 
     
     
       17. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising two lamp mounting portions made of integrally molded plastic, each lamp mounting portion being interposed between the laterally outside end portion of said upper elongate member and one of the side members of metal. 
     
     
       18. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a bracket arrangement through which a radiator is held on a back side of the radiator core support structure. 
     
     
       19. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 18 , in which said bracket arrangement comprises laterally spaced lower brackets integrated with the reinforcing structure installed in the channel of the lower elongate member, said lower brackets being projected backward from said lower elongate member to support thereon a lower portion of said radiator. 
     
     
       20. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 19 , in which each of said laterally spaced lower brackets is constructed to have a generally H-shape. 
     
     
       21. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 20 , in which said laterally spaced lower brackets comprise: 
       a horizontal base wall which has a circular opening; and  
       two triangular upper ribs which extend upward from laterally opposed ends of said flat base wall.  
     
     
       22. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 21 , in which said laterally spaced lower brackets further comprise two lower ribs which extend downward from the laterally opposed ends of the flat base wall. 
     
     
       23. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 22 , in which said laterally spaced lower brackets further comprise two front lower ribs which extend forward from front ends of the lower ribs. 
     
     
       24. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 23 , in which said laterally spaced lower brackets are integrated with a grip plastic portion which grips a given part of said lower elongate member, said grip plastic portion being integrated with the reinforcing structure installed in said lower elongate member. 
     
     
       25. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 19 , in which said bracket arrangement further comprises laterally spaced upper brackets made of metal and secured to said upper elongate member, said upper brackets being projected backward from said upper elongate member to connect an upper portion of said radiator. 
     
     
       26. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a tube holder arrangement which holds an oil tube extending from a power steering unit on the lower elongate member. 
     
     
       27. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 26 , in which said tube holder arrangement comprises at least one bracket which is raised from the lower elongate member and integral with the reinforcing structure installed in the lower elongate member, said bracket including two holding pawls by which a part of said oil tube is detachably held. 
     
     
       28. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 27 , in which said bracket is integral with a grip portion of molded plastic which grips a part of said lower elongate member. 
     
     
       29. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising another bracket which is integral with a pillar portion of molded plastic which extends between the upper and lower elongate members, said another bracket including two holding pawls by which a part of said oil tube is detachably held. 
     
     
       30. A radiator core support structure as claimed in  claim 29 , in which said pillar portion is formed with a vertically extending groove in which another part of said oil tube is steadily received. 
     
     
       31. A radiator core support structure comprising: 
       an upper elongate member made of metal;  
       a hood lock mounting member made of metal, said hood lock mounting member being welded to an intermediate portion of said upper elongate member;  
       a lower elongate member made of metal;  
       two side members made of metal, said side members being welded to laterally opposed ends of said lower elongate member;  
       a hood lock stay portion made of a molded plastic, said hood lock stay portion having an upper end integrally connected to said hood lock mounting member and a lower end integrally connected to an intermediate portion of said lower elongate member;  
       two pillar portions made of molded plastic, each pillar portion extending between laterally outside portions of said upper and lower elongate members;  
       an upper reinforcing structure made of molded plastic, said upper reinforcing structure extending in a channel defined in said upper elongate member and integrally connected with the upper end of said hood lock stay portion as well as the upper ends of said two pillar portions; and  
       a lower reinforcing structure made of molded plastic, said lower reinforcing structure extending in a channel defined in said lower elongate member and integrally connected with the lower end of said hood lock stay portion as well as the lower ends of said two pillar portions,  
       wherein the lower end of said hood lock stay portion is shaped to grip the intermediate portion of said lower elongate member.  
     
     
       32. A radiator core support structure comprising: 
       an upper elongate member made of metal;  
       a hood lock mounting member made of metal, said hood lock mounting member being welded to an intermediate portion of said upper elongate member;  
       a lower elongate member made of metal;  
       two side members made of metal, said side members being welded to laterally opposed ends of said lower elongate member;  
       a hood lock stay portion made of a molded plastic, said hood lock stay portion having an upper end integrally connected to said hood lock mounting member and a lower end integrally connected to an intermediate portion of said lower elongate member;  
       two pillar portions made of molded plastic, each pillar portion extending between laterally outside portions of said upper and lower elongate members;  
       an upper reinforcing structure made of molded plastic, said upper reinforcing structure extending in a channel defined in said upper elongate member and integrally connected with the upper end of said hood lock stay portion as well as the upper ends of said two pillar portions;  
       a lower reinforcing structure made of molded plastic, said lower reinforcing structure extending in a channel defined in said lower elongate member and integrally connected with the lower end of said hood lock stay portion as well as the lower ends of said two pillar portions;  
       mutually spaced two lower brackets which are integral with the lower reinforcing structure and exposed to a back side of said lower elongate member; and  
       mutually spaced two upper brackets made of metal, said upper brackets being secured to said upper elongate member and exposed to a back side of said upper elongate member,  
       wherein said lower and upper brackets are arranged to support and hold a radiator.  
     
     
       33. A radiator core support structure comprising: 
       an upper elongate member made of metal;  
       a hood lock mounting member made of metal, said hood lock mounting member being welded to an intermediate portion of said upper elongate member;  
       a lower elongate member made of metal;  
       two side members made of metal, said side members being welded to laterally opposed ends of said lower elongate member;  
       a hood lock stay portion made of a molded plastic, said hood lock stay portion having an upper end integrally connected to said hood lock mounting member and a lower end integrally connected to an intermediate portion of said lower elongate member;  
       two pillar portions made of molded plastic, each pillar portion extending between laterally outside portions of said upper and lower elongate members;  
       an upper reinforcing structure made of molded plastic, said upper reinforcing structure extending in a channel defined in said upper elongate member and integrally connected with the upper end of said hood lock stay portion as well as the upper ends of said two pillar portions;  
       a lower reinforcing structure made of molded plastic, said lower reinforcing structure extending in a channel defined in said lower elongate member and integrally connected with the lower end of said hood lock stay portion as well as the lower ends of said two pillar portions;  
       first and second brackets which are integral with the lower reinforcing structure and raised from the lower elongate member, each bracket including two holding pawls by which an oil tube from a power steering unit is detachably held;  
       a third bracket integral with one of said pillar portions, said third bracket including two holding pawls by which said oil tube is detachably held; and  
       a vertically extending groove defined by the pillar portion, said groove steadily receiving therein a part of said oil tube.